For a second consecutive year in search of starting rotation help, the Los Angeles Dodgers turned their attention to the international free agent market. Specifically, a highly sought after starter from Japan’s professional baseball league.
After signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million contract, the Dodgers returned to Nippon Professional Baseball to ink Roki Sasaki to a Minor League contract that included a $6.5 million signing bonus.
Yamamoto’s MLB debut, albeit somewhat limited because of injury, was a success on a personal and organizational level. The Dodgers learned from helping Yamamoto navigate his transition to Major League Baseball, and are looking to taking a similar approach with Sasaki.
“I think our first thing is the same thing we did with Yamamoto last year, it’s just trying to get him acclimated to one, U.S. style of baseball, practices, meetings and different things,” Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said of Sasaki.
“Obviously there’s a different style there. And then just kind of getting to know him, understanding what he’s trying to do, how he goes about his work. So these first couple weeks were really both of us trying to get to know each other. Then try to progress from there, get him dialed in on some things he wants to work on. He’s very curious.”
While there are a number of stylistic differences between MLB and NPB, the biggest has to be the amount of rest pitchers receive in between starts. It was the Dodgers’ biggest point of emphasis last season, keeping Yamamoto on the schedule of pitching once a week even if it meant deviating from the way a pitching staff normally operates in MLB.
Despite the Dodgers’ best efforts, Yamamoto still missed a significant amount of time in 2024 with right triceps tightness, but he was able to return in time to help guide the team win the World Series. Yamamoto posted a 3.00 ERA, 2.61 FIP, and collected 105 strikeouts in 90 innings during his rookie season.
The Dodgers took a cautious approach with Sasaki throughout Spring Training and it’s carried into the regular season as well. The team has continued to keep Yamamoto and Sasaki on a schedule of starting once a week.
Dodgers getting to see Roki Sasaki’s personality
In addition to learning more about Sasaki as a baseball player, Prior has also been pleasantly surprised as he learns more about the 23-year-old’s personality and how he interacts with his teammates.
“I think one thing that’s been really cool is him and his teammates,” Prior said. “Seeing him interact with teammates, he’s extremely outgoing and having a good time. Ultimately, I think those relationships will pay dividends as the season progresses because there’s going to be ups and downs, like with any baseball player.
“The game is hard. But him having those relationships and starting those right now with the guys, I think has been pretty cool. He’s fun. He likes to have fun, and that’s the main thing. Clearly we didn’t quite know who he was or his personality, but it’s a fun personality.
“But also he’s driven, and you can see that in his work.”
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